A Partridge in a Pear Tree

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We got so busy cooking, baking cookies with the girls, going here and yonder that I completely forgot to blog on Thanksgiving. In which is no excuse because with blogger you can set it to post when you want it to. Then we had to go out of town for a funeral, so Makayla was gone for the weekend.

So we went to see The Blind Side, when we got back in town.  If you haven't seen it yet.  It's worth going to. There's not many that I want to watch more than once.  But when we left I told my husband that's one that I want on DVD when it comes out. I laughed, I cried, and laughed so hard I cried. I love sandra Bullock as an actress but in this one her true southern style comes out.


Now on to the next business.                                                  

Tomorrow (Tuesday) is the big day.  I hope ya'll are ready for Twelve Days of Christmas Giveaways.  There will be at least one giveaway a day for the next 12 days.   All giveaways are from various Etsy stores.  If you haven't already would you please add my 12 Days of Christmas button to your blog.  For all of those that do, let me know, and leave it there until December 13th.  And/or blog about these giveaways and you will be entered for a seperate giveaway, that  I myself will be doing on Sunday December 13th.  It will be  a giveaway of some of my favorite things for Christmas. 
 This is my first year blogging, so I guess I can't say my annual giveaway.  But I hope that is what it will become, growing bigger and better every year.  Most of the giveaways are Christmas related, but there are a few that can be used year around.
So check back everyday, your not going to want to miss my Twelve Days of Christmas Giveaways.

Thanksgiving Random Dozen

Linda is at it again with her Random Dozen.  Only this time she's making it a Thanksgiving theme.  Plus she's bumping it up a day to Tuesday this week.  Most of us will probably be so busy cooking tomorrow, and Thursday we won't think about blogging.  LOL


1. Are you sticking to traditional Thanksgiving foods this year, or are you being culinarily adventurous?
  Traditional foods.  My family would probably faint if I suggested anything any different, especially my husband.


2. Tell me something concrete that you're thankful for. (Something you can literally touch, see, etc., not a concept like "hope.")
 My healthy family. 

3. You knew the flip side was coming: Share about something intangible that you're thankful for. 
My future home in heaven one day.
4. Share one vivid Thanksgiving memory. It doesn't have to be deep or meaningful, just something that remains etched in your memory.  Honestly I can't remember that many Thanksgiving growing up, my Dad worked shift work so it probably depended on when he was working when and what we ate.  I remember one Thanksgiving at my Grandmother's that everyone was there.  All her children and their families , my parents and family.  That was early 90's and probably the last time we were all there for Thanksgiving. 


5. What is one thing that you know beyond a shadow of a doubt is going to happen this Thanksgiving because it always does, year after year?  I will be in the kitchen cooking while another family member(not mentioning any names) sits in the recliner and fails to offer to help.

6. Do your pets get any left-overs?  No pets in this house.

7. Does your family pray before the big meal? If so, do you join hands while seated, stand, repeat a formal prayer or offer a spontaneous prayer? Who does the praying?
 We pray at every meal.  The night before at my Mother-in-laws, my step-father in law will pray.  Thanksgiving day at my brother's my Mom will pray.

8. Will you be watching football in the afternoon? If not, what will you be doing?  NO.  It may be on but I won't be watching it. 


9. There are two distinct camps of people on this issue: How do you feel about oysters in the dressing/stuffing?  Hate oysters, and have definetly never have, and never will have them in my dressing.

10. Do you consider yourself informed about the first Thanksgiving?  Somewhat.  What I read in school and we won't mention how many years ago that was.

11. Which variety of pie will you be enjoying?  Pecan. 

12. Do you feel for the turkey?? (This is a humorous throw back question related to the 12th question in another Random Dozen!)  Same as feel for the fish.  LOL  Nope don't feel sorry for it at all.  If I had my preference I would have ham or chicken.  Just not a big turkey fan.  But as stated in question #1 some would have a stroke if we didn't have a turkey.  As if something drastic might happen if we didn't. 

Where did this week go?

I feel like I have been totally out of it this week.  Makayla went back to school today.  She hasn't had any fever since Wednesday evening.  So last night we went to Megan's for a birthday dinner.  She cooked a wonderful dinner and a pound cake.  She told me that she ordered my present.  Asked if I wanted to know what it was.  I told her that was a silly question.  So guess what I'm getting .  Yep, Pioneer Woman's cookbook.  I can't wait.   Scott, Michael, and Makayla gave me a gift card to go shopping at my favorite clothes store. 
Then tomorrow for Brianna's (my step-daughter)  birthday, she Makayla and Megan is going to see New Moon.  In which that is fine with me to not go with them.  Because that means I get to keep Emily. 
My Mother-in-law Linda is still pretty loopy and in a lot of pain.  She will hopefully be getting out of the hospital tomorrow.  I'm cooking Thanksgiving dinner and taking it to them Wednesday evening so she will have a lot of time with the kids. 
I think that pretty much sums up my week.  I hope ya'll have a wonderful weekend.

Winner! The Power Of Respect, fever, birthday, this n that

Congratulations to Latrice  She's the winner of my book giveaway, The Power of Respect.    I had almost forgotten that I haven't posted who had won.

Makayla started running fever late Tuesday night so I haven't had much sleep.  It went as high as 103 with chills, and body aches.  But so far she's been  fever free since last night so hopefully it was just a 24-hour bug.  Or either for some reason, when my girls get exhausted and just need some extra sleep they get a high fever. 

Yesterday when I talked to Megan and told her that Makayla had a fever.  She said well we won't be coming over tomorrow then.  I asked her why they were coming over.  She said your birthday silly.  I explained to her that when you get my age it's just another day.  But honestly I am thankful for another year of being healthy.   God has been so good to my family. 

Another Dozen

It's Wednesday so it's time again for random dozen .  Linda   does so well coming up with twelve new and interesting questions every week.  More and more bloggers are joining in on the fun.  Why don't you join us also?  It's a great way to learn more about each other.

1. If you could master one sport, what would it be?
tennis, 

2. When you make a major purchase, do you go with your gut instinct, or do you do research to make an informed decision? Unfortunately most times I go with my gut instinct.  In some cases probably would have made a better decision if I had researched it and slept on it more.

3. There is an old kids' game that says you can find out what your movie star name would be by using your middle name as your first name and the name of the street you grew up on as your last. What is your movie star name?
  So funny.  Suzanne Pleasant

4. Would you rather give up your favorite music or your favorite food?
That's a hard one.  Give up chocolate, might just be detrimental to somebody.
5. There are two types of banana preferences. One is pristine yellow, almost to the point of being green; the other is spotty and more ripe. Which is your preference?
Well , I don't eat bananas.  But I buy them a little green so they will finish ripening once I get home and for them to last until there all gone.

6. Your favorite tree is?  I've never thought about it.  Anything that blooms, don't care for something plain.

7. On a scale of 1-10, how tech savvy are you?  I would say 7, have learned quite a bit since I started blogging.


8. Has H1N1 touched your family?
no, fortunately it hasn't.
9. Are you an analytical person, or do you just accept things the way they are without questioning or scrutinizing?  I'm told that I analyze alot.  But I think I take things sometimes without questioning them enough.

10. Is your personality more like that of a dog, cat, or Koala?
cat

11. Do you keep in touch with friends you made years ago?
There is a few that I have found on facebook.  But we still don't chat much.  Caught up on everything and then they are there if we need to email one another.
12. You are checking out at a grocery store. In the express lane, there are more people than the regular lanes, but of course, their load is less than those in the regular lanes. Which lane do you choose (assuming you qualify for the express lane) and why?  Express, hoping because they have fewer items it will go faster.

Three Winners!!!!!!!!! WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations to Katie she is our winner of the 16x20 rolled canvas.
Congratulations to Reyna she is the winner of the 18 x 24 Poster.  And last but not least, congratulations to Diana the winner of the 50 thank you cards. 
Thank you so much for those who entered.  Please don't forget my next giveaway ends on Tuesday.  Be on the watch for more upcoming giveaways.   You don't want to miss them.  Especially the 12 Days of Christmas.  There will be at least one giveaway a day, maybe more.

Chewy Bread

Don't forget 3 giveaways are ending today.  I will be drawing the winners later this evening.

Some calls it cake but to me it's more like bread.  Awesome with hot chocolate, or I guess coffee.  I don't drink coffee but it reminds me of a sweet bread.  Unfortunately no pictures, they ate it so fast.  Our pecans are beginning to fall so had to bake something with some of them.  This is another one of those recipes that is easy.  My favorite kind, other than if it has chocolate in it. 

Chewy Bread

1 1/2 cups pecans, chopped
1 stick butter, melted
1box light brown sugar
3 eggs
2 cups self-rising flour
1 tsp vanilla extract

Beat together brown sugar, and butter.  Add eggs; beat well.   Slowly add flour and vanila.  Mix well.  Stir in pecans.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes in a 9x13 inch pan.